Win a Scholarship to Damn Fine Words, the Writing Course for Business Owners

For several years now, the Damn Fine Words writing course has changed how businesspeople write the content that helps them market, sell and succeed. They learn new, effective writing techniques that speed up their content-creation process, get a huge boost of confidence, and learn how to produce all sorts of articles, blog posts, website copy and ebook content with pride and glee, completely stress-free.

The Damn Fine Words writing course opens to new students this September 2. And if you’re a small business owner, a freelancer or an entrepreneur, you won’t want to miss it, so get on the newsletter now to be notified the second you can join.

Now, each time I prepare for a new session, I also open up the DFW writing contest. Many people tell me they wish they could register for the course, because if they could just get in…

… they’d finally have the skills to write engaging website copy that pulls in much-needed clients.

…they could make more money, instead of guessing at what to write and struggling to get words out on the page.

…they could feel excited and happy about writing for their business for the first time in their lives, instead of agonizing over every word.

I want to help make that change happen.

What Is the Damn Fine Words Writing Contest:

This contest is a friendly competition where your sincerity, desire to learn, and motivation to succeed in business counts more than anything. This contest isn’t about the quality of your writing so much as the quality of your thoughts on writing… and what you would do if you improve your writing skills.

What You Can Win:

One person will win a full scholarship to the September 2013 session of Damn Fine Words (retail value $1,399). The first runner-up will win a 50% scholarship applicable to their registration for the September session.

The course lasts 10 weeks, and both winners become full-access students who benefit from all the lessons, hands-on exercises, immediately applicable advice, interactive members-only area – and my personal support and feedback throughout the entire course.

What You Need to Do:

Write a blog post about why writing is important to your business success. Why becoming a better, faster, more confident writer could literally change your life. How not feeling sure about your writing skills has affected your business, and what it would mean to you to have that obstacle swept away.

In other words, write about why it’s important for you to be in the Damn Fine Words writing course.

Your blog post or article should be at least 450 words. (This isn’t a brevity contest, after all.)

Post your article to your blog or another publicly-viewable location. No private email entries will be accepted.

Come back here and leave a comment that links to your post.

Pat yourself on the back.

That’s all.

There are no points given for correct grammar or spelling. There are no points given for fancy words or brilliant prose. In fact, there are no points given for the quality of writing at all.

I’m looking for two people whose businesses have a better chance at success because they committed themselves to improving their content-creation skills. I want to work with people who are driven to succeed and who understand this writing course could take their business to the next level. I want students who are dedicated to showing up every day and doing their very best. I’m looking for people who are ready, willing and able to commit to their self-improvement.

The contest closes August 30, 2013 at 7am (eastern time zone). I’ll select two winning posts and contact winners directly, so be sure to have a Contact page on your site or let me know your email address in some other way.

Ready? Get writing!

Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an expert copywriter and the owner of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, Nike sneakers and ice skating.

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You motivated me to participate (my entry link is attached to my name). Even if I don’t win, it was just as rewarding to write about what’s being offered: a chance for guidance and mentorship. Writing about it made me realize it’s something I am in need of.

Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for the blog. Thank you for all the work that you do. 🙂

It’s exciting to think that we could be looking at at least some of the next cohort, right here. Looking forward to working with and learning from you guys this fall. And good luck with the competition.

Alright here goes; “why you want to join the course. Tell me why it matters to you, and how much difference Damn Fine Words would make for your life.”
All right here goes…again. Yes, I entered this last year hoping to find some mentoring to help me get on the writing wagon, ah- typewriter? No, no! Computer and sticky notes-add in the index cards and note pads and a dining room wallpapered with ideas that never seem to go anywhere. That’s not true, they get knocked off and slid under the china cabinet, table and for some reason half way stuck in that irritating mouse hole…Damn! I’m regressing. “Sorry.” That was said in a small squeaky voice. (Insert smiley face here).
Why this matters to me, well time keeps on trumping by and I really need to find ‘the writing me’ amidst all of life’s crazies. I just want something that’s mine, something that will define me. Yes! I am being selfish! Life is too short to take it seriously. My mother, who is eighty-nine, may just outlive me. Damn Fine Words can make a difference for ‘me’ by helping ‘me’ regain my momentum and show me the path to write out the crazy. Hmmm! Or do I mean write like crazy? No, I think I got it right the first time.
Oh, Great! I forgot about the blog post… I would love to win this but I have some old blog posts – You know last time I entered- Now, I am heading back to the hospital to see my mom- so I hope this will do , it more than likely won’t , grumble!
Pick me! Pick Me! See my hand waving! See me jumping up and down! See me jumping in the car, I am late.
Really, can’t you see why I need to win and take and finish this course? I need lots of help, so ‘PICK ME!’http://www.examiner.com/writing-179-in-chicago/gerardine-baugh?page=1

On a Sunday afternoon, I’d logged on to review & merge two powerpoint presentations for a volunteer training course I’m delivering next week. But this email in my Inbox grabbed my attention. The powerpoints had to wait. Thank you, not only for the opportunity to apply for a scholarship but for the chance to examine why writing is such a part of me.

James…a “So You Think You Can Dance” post is waiting for you on my Facebook page. Thanks for giving me the enjoyment of writing this, and for bringing smiles to my friends. After you’ve had a chance to read it, please leave me a smiley face.

I can’t seem to track down your post on Facebook – would you be able to link me to it? It’d actually be best if it was published somewhere that’s viewable to all, not just Facebook folk, if possible. Let me know?

James,
I really would love to have you pick me, as one of the winners because I need it, but even if I don’t win I am going to try to take this course because I know that I need it and I need to commit to banishing this fear.

There are sooo many amazing entries, so that’s totally understandable. Not even sure how you can choose at all?

But this waiting is killing me. I was dreaming about it ALL LAST NIGHT and it was awful. I think every possible outcome passed through my dreams at least twice and I kept waking up in various stages of exhilaration and disappointment.

Needless to say I need some serious coffee this morning. And probably Rescue Remedy. And puppy snuggles.

I just wanted to send through a link http://ow.ly/d/1tuF to highlight why ”Words do Matter” and what a scholarship for your upcoming Damn Fine Words course would mean for me and the communities I work with.

The panel of judges and I have read, reviewed, deliberated, and made our decisions. We’ve been in touch with the winner and runner-up via email.

To everyone else… thank you so much for giving us a run for our money. You wrote touching posts, determined posts, and posts that showed us you’re motivated to go places in life. We sincerely had a tough choice on our hands, and this is us offering you all a round of applause.

We hope to see many of you in the course as new students – even though we could only choose one winner for the scholarship, we saw many people show us that this course would be beneficial to your goals. Chase after them; you’ll make it!

[…] desire to succeed and commitment to ongoing self-improvement- make me the ideal candidate for the Damn Fine Words – Writing Course for Business Owners Scholarship. I can’t imagine a course more ideal! If I am […]

[…] And of course that’s what this blog is about – keeping your butt in the studio (or the seat) and creating day in and day out. When you feel like it and when you don’t. So I’m entering James Chartrand’s Damn Fine Words contest for people who wish to improve their writing. Check it out at Men with Pens. […]

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The Damn Fine Words writing contest is open to anyone - writers-for-hire, freelancers, small business owners, the self-employed, and entrepreneurs, in any career field or type of industry.
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